Sealing means for packing and shipping cases.



e. M, WILLIAMS. SEALING MEANS FOR PAQKING AND SHIPPING CASES.APPLICATION FILED JUNE I6. 39H.

1,28?,546. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

1 STATESPATENT oEEIoE.

GEORGE M. wInLIAivrs, or ELIZABET nEw JERSEY, ,ASSIGNOR To B. LQEILLAEDCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION o EEw JERSEY.

SEALING MEANs roa -rncninenivn SHIPPING'CASES.

Specii ication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918 AppIication fi led am is, 1914. Serial No.845,358.

T 0 all whom it may conccrnr Be it known that I, GEORGE M. WILLIAMS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the county ofUnion andState of'New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Seali11g,Means for Packing and Shipping Cases, of which the followingis a specification.

My present invention relates generally to packing and shipping cases inwhich articles of merchandise are packed and shipped and has to do moreparticularly with an improved means for fastening and sealing theoverlapping ends of the metallic straps usually employed to bind suchcases, with'the object in view ofminiiniz-ing losses that frequentlyoccur through unauthorizedopening of and'theftsfrom the cases byunscrupulous persons during transit thereof from the manufacturer to thecustomer, jobber or retailer.

It is a well recognized fact amon manufacturers and shippers generallythat thousands, of dollars worth of goods a e lost annually by reason ofthe unauthorized opening of shipping cases and petty thefts there-: fromby unscrupulous persons, who, after prying up a board or boards of theshipping case remove a small portion of the contents thereof and thenreplace the said board or boards in order to restore the case toitsoriginal condition, so far as its external appearance is concerned.These thefts usually occur while the boxes or cases are in transit fromthe shipperto thecustomer, and as the cases, so far as externalappearance is concerned, bear no mark or evidence indicating that theyhave been tempered with, that fact is not discovered until the case hasbeen opened by the customer, and this then raises a question between theshipper and his customeras to whether or not the case was, as a matterof fact fully packed when it left the shipper; whether it was opened intransit, or whether the customer is entirely cor-- rect or truthful inhis complaints as to shortage, which questions are often difficult ofsatisfactory adjustment and usually result in the shipper having tostand the loss.

The object of. the present invention is to provide a novel and simpleform of seal for the overlapping ends of the straps or hands thatencircle the packing case and one that will readilybetray the fact as'towhether or not the'case has been opened in transit,'it

being the duty of the shipper to see that the case is in proper shapeand properly packed before it leaves his hands.

A further object of the invention is to provide a seal for the purposestated that cannot be'removed, after havin once been inserted and set,without so istorting, mar-, ring, or brealn'ng it as to render itsundetected reuse a practical impossibility.

The invention has in view other more 'or less important objects, all ofwhich will be inade clear in the detailed description to fol-' Brieflyand generally stated my improved seal consists of an eyelet-likestructuremade of relatively thin and comparatively soft metal andcomprising a relatively broad and thin disk-like plate with an openingtherethrough from the perimeter of which opening extends acircularflange or sleeve, the latter being'preferably provided with a pluralityof longitudinally extending slits or cuts to facilitate the swagingoperation when the said flange or sleeve is assed through alinedopenings in the over apping ends of a box strap, the said relativelybroad disk-like plate being employed in order to provide a face uponwhich may be impressed or otherwise delineated in a conspicuous manner,the name, initials, or trade-mark of the manufacturer or shipper, andthe word seal, showing that the box orpackage has'been sealed.

I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, wherein- '7 Figure l is aperspective view of a box boundwith metal straps, the overlapping ends of which are sealed according tothe invention.

Fig. 2 is'a side elevation of the sealing" eyelet. V v

Fig. 3 is a topplan view of the eyelet.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view showing the swaged' end of the eyelet.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing'the eyelet inposition before beingswaged, and

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the eyelet after being swagedn z wReferring to the said drawings the reference numeral 10, designates ashipping box or case which, in the instance shown, is of. ordinaryconstruction and comprises wooden ends 12, and top,'bottom and sides,the latparting from the spirit of the invention, the showing here beingmerely illustrative.

The said box or case is bound by a metal strap or straps 14, securedthereto at intervals by means of nails 15, as is usual. The ends of thestrap or straps are overlapped preferably upon the top wall of the boxor case and an opening 16 punched through said overlapping ends as moreclearlyshown in Figs. 5 and 6.

My improved seal consists of an eyeletlike member preferably formed fromthin and comparatively soft metal, such as brass, and comprises a thindiskslike plate 17, hav ing a relatively broad face upon which I proposeto imprint, stamp or impress the word seal or some similar designation,together with the name, initials or trademark of the manufacturer orshipper of the goods contained within the box or case, all as more.clearly shownin Fig. 3.

The said disk-like plate 17, is provided with an opening from theperimeter of which opening extends a sleeve or collar 18, formedintegral with the plate, the said sleeve being provided with a pluralityof slits or incisions 19, extending longitudinally thereof from itsouter end inward toward, but preferably terminating short of the saidplate, as more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the said slits orincisions forming between them clenching or swaging tongues 20, as moreclearly shown in Figs. 6t and 6.

In applying my improved seal thestrap 14, is first secured to the box inthe manner hereinbefore referred to and as illustrated in Fig. 1, andthe alined openings 16, are then punched or cut therein, said openingsbeing preferably slightly larger than the sleeve portion 18 of theeyelet for a purpose presently to be explained and said openings beingpreferably located at a point removed from the end 21 of the upper lapofthe strap which upper lap is secured at its said end 21, to. the box orcase by means of a nail 22, as illustrated in Fig. l.

After the openings 16, have been formed in the overlapping ends of thestrap, the sleeve portion 18, of the sealing eyelet is inserted thereinand the slitted' end upset or swaged over the lower face of the'underlap of the strap so that the tongues 20 will be radially spread asillustrated in Fig. 4, and the said tongues will closely overlie theupper face of one of the board strips 13 constituting a portionof thetop or sidewall of the box or case as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. Theswaging or upsetting operation is effected by means of a toolhaving ananvil member with which vthe incised end of the sleeve. 18 engages,thesaid anvil member serving to spread the tongues and cause them toclosely embrace the lower face of the under lap of the strap upon ahammer-' blow being imparted to the disk-like face of the sealingmember. The tool referred to forms no. part of the present invention,but is shown and described in my co-pending application filed of evendate herewith (forming the subject-matter of Patent No. 1,123,153).

The openings 16, in the overlapping ends of the strap are made slightlylarger than the sleeve portion 18 of the eyelet in order to leavesuflicient clearance between the sleeve and wall of the opening so thatduring the operation of swaging or setting the eyelet the sleeve portionwill be slightly crimped or distorted laterally as more clearly shown inFig. 6. This crimping or distorting of the sleevetaken in connectionwith the fact that the eyelet as a whole is made of thin andcomparatively soft metal, will render unauthorized reuse thereofpractically impossible as any attempt toremove the same from itsconnection with the strap after it has been once set will result in suchdistortion of the eyelet as to practically destroy it. If an eyelet ofsome other form, and one not bearing the name, initials or trademark ofthe manufacturer or shipper of the box, should be substituted for theoriginal one the customer upon receiving the'box or case'would know atonce that the seal had been broken in transit and in such acase he wouldreturn the box without opening it.

I prefer to slit or incise the sleeve portion of the eyelet-like sealingmember in order to insure a better and more uniform upsetting of saidmember. I also prefer to upset the sleeve upon the under la of the stra)so that the upset tongues: Wlll be confinec between the strap and a'wall of the box, thus making it practically impossible for any one tostraighten out the prongs after theyhave once been set, in an attempt towithdraw the sealing member, with the idea in nind ofreinserting andresetting the same after having removed a portion of the contents ofthebox. The fact that the sealing memher is made from relatively thin andcomparatively soft sheet metal, makes removal thereof withoutdestruction, a practical impossibility. It will be apparent thereforethat the security of my improved method of sealing box straps resides toa great extent in the weakness or frail construction of'the sealingmember. 7

I am aware that it has been proposed heretofore to fasten theoverlapping ends: of

box straps by means of solid as well as hollow rivets; but thesehave notproven satisfactory because of the fact that they can be readily removedby filing away the swaged end and then reset, or a new rivet may besubstituted for the one removed. .Since my improved sealing member bearsthe name, initials or trade-mark of the manufacturer or shipper, thesubstitution for such a marked member of one not so marked will.

readily betray the fact that the box or package has been tampered within transit.

If desired I may drive a nail 23 or other fastening device through theopening in the sealing member as shown in Fig. 6, so that the head ofthe nail will overlie the face of W the plate 17, around the margin ofthe opening, thus if an attempt ismade to open the seal it will benecessary to first withdraw the nail, and owing to the fact that the topplate 17, of the sealing member is thin and u made of comparativelySOfillllGtLl, the operwithdrawing the nail'22, to free the said end 21,of the strap, thus providing a graspin portion which when pulledupwardly, wi 1 break or rip open the sealing member, this being possiblebecause of the nature of v. the material from which the sealing memberis made. Furthermore, this particular location of the sealing memberplaces it in position where it is substantially free from shearing orother distorting strains, thus preserving the integrity of the memberunder shipping conditions, even though the member is so formed as to beeasily damaged or distorted under these strains when permitted byremoving nail 22.

What I claim is 2-- 1. A shipping package comprising a re ceptaclehaving a metallic sealing strap encircling the same and secured theretoat intervals throughout its length, the ends of said strap overlappingeach other, and means for detecting surreptitious release of the securedstrap to permit opening of the receptacle, said means includingregistering openings in said strap end portions, said openings beingspaced from the free end of the upper lap of the strap, a hollow sealingeyelet having a sleeve portion extending through said openings in thestrap with the marginal edges of said sleeve portion swaged over theface of the under'lap of the strap and lying between said face and awall of the receptacle, and securing means located at the end of theupper lap of the strap beyond the eyelet, whereby the detecting meanswill be carried solely by the overlying strap ends and will be normallyretained free from shearing or distorting strains. t

2. A shipping package comprisinga receptacle having a metallic sealingstrap encircling the same and secured thereto at intervals throughoutits length, the ends of said strap overlapping each other, and means fordetecting surreptitious release of the secured strap to permit openingof the receptacle, said means including registering openings in saidstrap end portions, said openings being spaced from the free end of theupper lap of the strap, a hollow sealing eyelet havlng a sleeve portionextending through said openings in the strap with the marginal edges ofsaid sleeve portion swaged over the face of the under lap of the strapand lying between said face and a wall'of the receptacle, the head ofsaid eyelet overlying the upper; lap of the strap being relatively broadand bearing a suitable mark indicating the'source from which thereceptacle came, and securing means located at the end of the upper lapof the strap beyond the eyelet, whereby the detecting means will becarried solely by the overlying strap ends and will be normally retainedfree from shearing or distorting strains.

3. A shipping package comprisinga receptacle having a metallic sealingstrapencircling the same and secured thereto at intervals throughout itslength, the ends of said strap overlapping each other, and means fordetecting surreptitious release of the secured strap to permit openingof the receptacle, said means including registering openings in saidstrap end portions, said openingsbeing spaced from the free end of theupper lap of the strap, a hollow sealing member consisting of arelatively thin plate having a broad face and an integrally formedsleeve or collar, the latter extending through the openings in the strapwith the marginal edges thereof swaged over the face 4. A shipping casecomprising a recep tacle having a metallic strap encircling the same andsecured thereto at intervals throughout its length, the ends of thestrap overlapping each other and secured to the receptacle within suchoverlapping portions, and means for detecting surreptitious release ofthe secured overlapping ends to permit opening of the receptacle, saidmeans including registering openings in said strap end portions, saidopenings being positioned beyond such point of end securing to locatethe latter point between the openings and the end of the outer portionof the overlapped ends, and a sealing member consisting of a relativelythin and comparatively of the under lap of the strap and lying beof thesealing member bearing a mark indi-.

cating the source from whence the receptacle came, whereby the detectingmeans will be carried solely by the overlapping strap ends and will benormally retained free from shearing 0r distorting strains.

5. A shipping case comprising a receptacle having a metallic strapencircling the same and secured thereto at intervals throughout itslength, the ends of the strap overlapping each other and secured to thereceptacle within such overlapping portions, and means for detectingsurreptitious release of the secured overlapping ends to permit openingof the receptacle, said means including registering openings in saidstrap end portions, said openings being. positioned beyond such point ofend securing to locate the latter point between the openings and the endof the outer portion of the overlapped ends, and a hollow sealing memberconsisting of a thin plate of soft metal havmg a broad face a With 7 anopenlng therethrough, and an integrally formed and lonlast-asgitudinally incised sleeve also of soft metal outstanding from the platearound said opening, said sleeve extending through the said openings inthe strap, such sleeve being laterally distorted when the sealing memberis swaged in position to unite the ends of the strap, and having theportions thereof between, the incisions upset over the face of the underlap of the strap and lying between said face and a wall of thereceptacle, whereby the detecting means will be carried solely by theoverlapping strap ends and will be normally retained free from shearingor distortingstrains.

(5. As a means for detecting surreptitious opening of shipping packageshaving encircling metallic sealing strapssecured to the. packages withoverlapping ends, a sealing member of eyelet form extending through theoverlapping ends at. a point where shearing strains will be ineffective,and securingmeans located at the end of the upper lap of the strapbeyond the sealing member, said eyelet being formed of thin soft metalwith the inner end swaged and underlying the strap and with the outerface of such swaged end external of and in prox imity to a wall of thepackage.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in. presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE M. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses: V

LENA ELFMAN, .GUs'rAvoR HER'rzsHUeI-I.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). C.

